Best Things to Do in Flam Norway + 1 Day Itinerary & Tours

In Europe, Norway, Trip itineraries by JurgaLAST UPDATED: March 20, 2020This post may contain affiliate links, which means that we may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. More info: Disclosure.

Flam is probably one of the most visited fjord destinations in Norway. Not only it’s a popular stop for major cruise ships, but it’s also an important element of a very popular formula – Norway in a Nutshell. We visited Flam by car, as part of our two-week Norway road trip. In this post, I share our experience and tell you about the best things to see and do in Flam.

In this article, I also included a suggested one day itinerary for Flam and advice on where to stay. Below you will also find some tips on how to avoid the crowds and truly enjoy this magnificent region.

TIP: If you stumbled upon this article wondering how to visit Flam as a day trip from Bergen, you may want to take a look at this highly-rated private day tour that includes a visit to Flam, Sognefjord, Gudvangen, as well as Flam Railway and/or fjord cruise. It’s not cheap, but quite a good value considering what’s included and the best price-quality tour that I was able to find. Further below in this article, you can find a few alternative suggestions.

Best Things to Do in Flam

1. Scenic Flam Railway – Flåmsbana

A spectacular train journey Flam – Myrdal – Flam is probably the main highlight in Flam area. Described in many publications as one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world, a ride on the Flam scenic railway is not to be missed.

The 2-hour round trip will take you through some of the most beautiful mountain scenery. In less than an hour, the train ascends 866 meters (2,841 ft) and passes beautiful valleys and countless waterfalls.

The train makes a short photo stop by the impressive Kjosfossen waterfall. All of a sudden the music starts to play and a dancer appears on the mountain, by the ruins of an old farm. Some people will find this a mesmerizing experience, the others – a strange tourist attraction. No matter in which camp you are, you cannot help but admire the sheer power of this waterfall! And just think of it – how cool is it for a train to stop in the middle of nowhere just for you to be able to admire this spectacular waterfall.

Flam Railway practical information and tips:

Arrive at the station at least 20-30min before departure. The sooner you board, the more seat choice you have.

The first and last seats of every wagon have windows that can be opened. If you are planning to take pictures, that’s the place to be.

Sitting on the right side (departing from Flam) of the train will give you a bit better views most of the time.

If visiting in summer, go very early in the morning or on the last train in the evening to avoid the crowds. If I were to visit Flam again, I would love to experience this beautiful place off-season. I hear that the scenic Flam railway is just spectacular in spring and autumn as well.

Kjosfossen waterfall between Flam and Myrdal

Flam Railway – is it worth it?

I have read lots of mixed reviews of the Flam Railway and was wondering if it’s worth it…

Some say it’s a tourist attraction. It is. Some say it’s for old people. No, it’s for everyone. Some say it’s expensive. Everything is expensive in Norway. Some say it’s one of the most beautiful train rides in the world. It certainly is!

Yes, it’s busy, it’s expensive, it’s full of tourists, and all those things. But it’s also a spectacular trip! Do you really want to miss it just because it’s popular?! Would you miss the Eiffel Tower in Paris or the Statue of Liberty in New York? Go early in the morning, take the very first train (7.30 AM in summer), come offseason. Do whatever works best for you, but don’t miss Flam scenic railway!

Flamsbana scenic railway trip from Flam to Myrdal

2. Scenic Cruise of Nærøyfjord – Naeroyfjord

Listed as the UNESCO World Heritage site, Nærøyfjord is one of the most beautiful fjords of Norway. The narrow fjord is surrounded by mountains peaking up to 1800 meters (5900 ft) above sea level. I don’t think I have ever seen so many waterfalls in my life as at Naeroyfjord! Incredible scenery, together with the picturesque little villages with colorful houses dotting the landscape, makes this one of the most scenic fjords in Norway!

The best and easiest way to truly appreciate the beauty of Naeroyfjord is from the water. There are several options, the most popular is the scenic fjord cruise from either Flam or Gudvangen.

Naeroyfjord scenic cruise practical information and tips:

In summer, there are two types of boats doing this cruise: the regular ‘old’ type boat or the new ‘Vision of the Fjords’ maritime hybrid vessel. This premium option is faster and has more viewing decks, but it’s also more expensive.

The boats stop several times, but you cannot hop off and hop on with the same ticket. If you prefer to explore one of the villages, like Undredal, you have to enquire about separate tickets. Or visit Undredal by car, as we did.

The Naeroyfjord scenic trip is not a car ferry, but there is a bus that can take you back to the starting point. The boat trip takes about 2-3 hours depending on the vessel, but the shuttle bus between Gudvangen and Flam takes only 20 minutes.

Early morning or late afternoon departures are the best.

Naeroyfjord cruise is another must-do in Flam!

3. Viking Valley Njardarheimr in Gudvangen

The newly opened Viking Valley in Gudvangen is not a museum, but an authentic Viking village. You can meet real Vikings, learn more about their lifestyle, crafts, and history. There are regular guided tours, and it’s really interesting to meet these people who are so passionate about the Viking era that they choose to live that way today.

Make sure you talk to the Vikings. If you show some interest in what they do, you get to meet some amazing people and learn a lot.

We didn’t know what to expect of this place before our visit and thought it was some kind of a museum. But we spent almost 3 hours here and left with a feeling that we have experienced something truly unique.

I highly recommend to include Viking Village in your Flam itinerary, also if visiting with kids. To me, Viking Village is one of the best things to do in Flam area!

Visiting the Viking Valley gives you unique opportunity to learn more about the Vikings

4. Stegastein Viewpoint

A narrow road with twists and turns brings you to Stegastein viewpoint, where on a clear day you can enjoy one of the best views of the fjords in the whole area.

It’s really nice to see, but note that Stegastein viewpoint is located about half an hour’s drive from Flam and therefore requires a car (or a guided tour) to get there.

Stegastein viewpoint

5. Undredal

Undredal is a tiny little village along the Naeroyfjord that in the past could only be reached by boat. Apart from the 12th-century stave church, a cafe, and some colorful houses, there isn’t actually much to see or do here. It’s an idyllic little place that you will pass by boat if you do the scenic Nærøyfjord cruise. But there are also organized tours to visit Undredal, or you can come by car and visit individually.

Honestly, I have mixed feelings about Undredal. I loved the look of the village from the water, it’s just so picturesque! And the road to the village was also nice: you pass a couple of farms specialized in goat cheese production, and the scenery is beautiful too…

However, when we visited Undredal in the afternoon, there were at least 5 busses with tourists here. And I was wondering for what. Apart from the little church, there’s really not much to see here. I think they walk to the church and then have some cheese tasting at a tiny cafe by an even tinier harbor. We expected to be able to see how they make cheese, but even that is not possible. It looked like the cruise ship companies have found the way to make money out of nothing.

Is Undredal worth it? If you have little time and have already seen Undredal from the fjord cruise, then don’t worry about going back by car – you have seen the best of it. If you have a car and have an hour to spare, sure, you can drive all the way to Undredal. Just try to go in the morning or in the evening and avoid the crowds from the cruise ships. You might have a more authentic experience than we did.

Undredal village along the fjord between Gudvangen and Flam

6. Flam Railway Museum

Flam Railway Museum is located at the Flam railway station and the entrance is free of charge.

It’s not a museum I would go out of my way to visit, but if you are in Flam and have 15 minutes, definitely take a look inside. It’s actually quite fascinating to learn more about the construction of this railway.

Practical information: Museum is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM.

Can you imagine building a mountain railway with these tools?!

7. Brekkefossen Waterfall Hike

If you would like to do some hiking in Flam, then Brekkkefossen waterfall is probably one of the nicest easily accessible options. You can get a map of the area at the tourist information center in Flam.

If you walk all the way, count 2-3 hours round trip. The first part is on a paved road (can also be done by car), and then there is a climb to the waterfall. Note that the climb is rather steep and you need good walking shoes. If it has been raining, expect it to be muddy.

Again, Brekkefossen is not really a must to see in Flam, but if you like hiking and want to escape the crowds, then it’s definitely a nice hike to consider. If this is the first waterfall you will see in Norway, then you will definitely be impressed. But if you have been traveling around a bit more and have seen hundreds of waterfalls by the time you get to Flam, then Brekkefossen is just an average waterfall, not more.

We didn’t climb all the way to the top – here is the view from the road where the climb starts.

Brekkkefossen waterfall

More Things to Do in Flam

The above-mentioned activities are – in my opinion – the best things to see and do in Flam in one day. If you have more time, however, there are always more options.

In Flam village, you can also visit the Aurland Shoe shop and take a guided tour of the small factory. Supposedly, this is the only shoe factory left in Norway, and it has less than ten employees.

If you like beer, don’t miss the Aegir Brew Pub.

There is also a park and several playgrounds in Flam. Great to let your kids run off some energy.

Aegir Brew Pub looks more like a stave church than a cafe

How to Spend One Day in Flam – Itinerary & Tours

For such a small place, Flam offers quite a lot of activities. But most tourists only have one day in Flam. Here is my suggestion on how to best spend one day in Flam. The hours I suggest are based on the current summer schedule (2017).

You can change the order of the activities, but this gives you an idea of what you can see and do in Flam in one day. Also, you can do pretty much the same trip starting in Gudvangen as well.

This boat trip from Bergen to Flam and back allows you to enjoy the beautiful scenery from the boat and gives you some free time to explore Flam. That way you can also take a scenic railway trip to Myrdal and back (not included in the price) – read more info at the Flam Railway section above.

Goat farm on the way to Undredal

Where to Stay in Flam Area

There are just three hotels in Flam, and a couple of holiday homes and apartments. It’s a very popular area, so it’s essential that you book in advance. Staying in Flam is by far the best option for exploring the region. There are also several restaurants and a small supermarket as well.

If all accommodation in Flam is fully booked or is above your budget, Gudvangen is probably the best alternative. We stayed at Gudvangen Fjordtell and Apartments, and the location was fantastic. The hotel is a bit dated though. But then again – you come here for the location. Just take a look at this image below – I took this picture just a few steps away from our hotel room. And in the evening we had this spectacular place all to ourselves!

Comments

Hey! I really enjoyed this post, thank you. I visited in January this year and Flam is stunning in winter. I know you mentioned you would like to visit in spring and autumn but you really should add winter to your list too!

Hi Jo, thanks for your input and I’m sure our readers planning a winter trip will be glad to hear this. I think that the area is amazing in any season – I saw pictures of Flam in winter and it looks really nice (and there are no crowds, which probably makes the whole experience even more special). Happy travels!

For our day ashore in Oslo we (my husband and I, both active seniors) are thinking of taking the cruise hop on hop off. I feel attracted to visiting Fram museum but I’m wondering if it’s better to go to the Viking museum if we have only time for one. Any suggestions will be very welcome. Thanks. Marthese from Malta.

Hi Joyce, thank you for your comment. I agree with you that Borgund Stave Church is definitely worth a visit. However, it’s not the purpose of this article to talk about places that aren’t in the nearest vicinity of Flam. If you drive an hour from Flam in any direction, there would be at least twice as many other things to add to this list, e.g. Skjervsfossen and Tvindefossen waterfalls on the way from Bergen to mention just a few. It wouldn’t be about the best things to do in Flam anymore, rather about how to plan your trip in that area and we already have that information covered in our Norway itinerary.

Jurga, My husband and I will be in Norway for 8 nights first of June, and are spending 3 in Aurland. I plan for us to take a fjord cruise from Flam, but would appreciate suggestions for our other full day. The train trip looks nice!

Hi Patti, all our suggestions for Flam area are already in this article. The train ride is nice, but you can easily do it on the same day as the fjord cruise. If you have a car, you can visit some places nearby – please check our Norway itinerary for suggestions of the places we visited just before or after Flam – it will give you a good indication of what there is to see. If you rather stay in Flam area, there are kayaking possibilities and also hiking. Google both and you’ll find some more info.

I will be travelling for 3 days to Flam area in June with my wife and daughter. I will be staying 3 nights in flam… We won’t do any hiking or biking as my daughter is 6 …We will take fjord, visit Viking village, undredal… Anything more you can suggest as we have 3 full days there

Hi Kunal, all my suggestions for Flam area are in the article. In addition, you can also take a kayaking tour – they looked amazing, but the weather wasn’t really cooperating when we visited. There is also a playground in Flam that your daughter will love. PS In Flam there is also a tourist info center. Ask them for any additional suggestions, maybe they’ll know more.

Wow, what a great source of information! Bookmarked for my next trim to Norway. Just wondering, if we take the round-trip Flam railway (Flam – Myrdal – Flam), do we need to change train in Myrdal, or we can just sit in the train, waiting for it to go back to Flam?

Hi Dita, no, normally you don’t have to change the train in Myrdal. It stays there for a couple of minutes (hardly enough time to get out for a picture) and leaves to go back to Flam. PS if you go in high season, it’s essential to book the train ride in advance.

HI, Thankyou for your helpful advice! Did you find driving in Norway ok? Going mid May for 3 nights and thinking of hiring a car from Bergen, driving to Flam for a night, then to Eidjford for one night and back to Bergen for one night.. Thoughts?

Hi Pam, we did this trip in August, so driving was ok. There were some mountain roads where there was still snow, but your trip doesn’t go there (and those roads will probably not open that early in the year). The roads between Bergen and Flam are ok, but you should know that they are just regular one lane in each direction roads, some parts quite narrow and there are lots of tunnels. Even if you wanted to, you can’t drive much faster than 60-70km/h, usually even much slower than that. As long as you plan enough time for your drive, you should be ok. Use Google maps to plan your trip – it has very good estimates how long it takes to drive from one place to another. Please also check this part of our Norway itinerary where we talk about driving from Bergen to Flam. I mention several places that you can visit along the way. We haven’t been to Eidfjord, so I don’t know how the roads are there. But from what I see on Google maps those roads are open even now in winter, so it should be fine in May. Have a nice trip!

Hi Nadine, I’ll answer this as our readers don’t get notified about comments – this doesn’t work as a forum… Flam is very small and all the buses stop very close to the railway station, which is also just near the cruise ship port. It’s one big busy parking, with a tourist info center and some shops in the middle.

Thank you so much for this post. I have been piecing together an itinerary for a few months We’d like to spend a little time in the mountains rather than rushing from Oslo to Bergen in one day. Your blog is by far the most helpful, almost everything else says there’s nothing to do in Flam!

Hi Esther, there is more to Flam than just the railway, and also more than I have written in this post (simply because we only had one full day there and didn’t have the time to do more). If you like biking, you can take the train from Flam to Myrdal and then bike back. There are also some hiking paths around Flam. You can ask for more info at the tourist info centre, they also have maps of the area. Another interesting option is kayaking, there are even multi-day kayak trips available. Best to book in advance. So there is definitely more to do in and near Flam if you like nature. If you are still working on your itinerary, you may want to read our 2-week Norway road trip itinerary. We didn’t go to Oslo, but covered the most amazing places and many must-see fjords, so maybe you’ll find some more inspiration for your trip.

My husband worked in Laerdal near Flam a few years ago and I can safely say it is one of my favourite places on earth. We travelled the railway and along the fjord by ferry at the very end of October. There were no cruise ships and not so many tourists and it was stunningly beautiful. We caught a bus from Laerdal and were alone for a good hour at the cafe and could wander round and totally enjoy the experience- just the two of us! It was Fantastic!

Such a helpful and detailed post about Flam! Thank you for writing and sharing. I’ll spending a week in Norway at the end of September, but I didn’t have time to fit Flam in. I will definitely have to next time! So beautiful!

That’s a pity, Ania, Flam is definitely worth a visit. But I know how difficult it is to squeeze so many beautiful places in a short trip itinerary. Norway is huge and there’s so much to see. Maybe next time indeed.

Welcome!

Hi, I’m Jurga. A traveler with a camera and a mom of three boys. On this blog, I share our family's travel experiences all over the world, coupled with lots of practical information and useful tips. My pictures will inspire you to discover new destinations and my stories will prove that you can take your kids anywhere.Join us as we discover the world one beautiful adventure at a time! Here you can read more about me, my family, and our trips all over the world...